patek



(No Model.)

W. A..BURKE.

GRIP FOR CABLE .RAILWAYS.

No. 317,619. Patented May 12. 1885 N, PETERS. PhMwLilhogrzphcr, Wahirxgion, n. a

Iharrnn STAT Sv PATENT Orrrcno WILLIAM ANILE BURKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F. PATEK, OF SAME PLACE.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,619, dated May 12, 1885.

' Application filed March 9, 1885. (No model.)

To 06 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BURKE, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Grips for Cable Railways; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in gripping devices orapparatus by which connection is made between a car and an endless traveling rope moving in the tube beneath the streetsurface.

It consists in a mechanism by which the gripping-jaws are caused to approach or recede from each other and a means for more perfectly protecting the working parts from dirt or injury.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through Y Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view with a part of the foot-shank broken away to show the link or tumbler and its connection with the moving jaw of the grip. Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the shank and the vertically-moving stem and inclined guides.

A is the vertical portion of the shank, which extends from the car or vehicle to be driven downward through the slot in the top of the cable tube or tunnel, and it has an L-shaped extension or plate, B, forming the foot, which extends to one side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A yoke, C, surrounds this foot, and also extends behind the rear of the shank A, its sides being grooved so as to receive a corresponding tongue formed on the edges of the foot B, whereby the whole is held firmly and solidly together beneath the outer end of this foot.

Ablock,D,is firmly secured by bolts E,which pass through the foot and screw into it. This block carries the gripjaw and rollers upon one side, these not differing materially from those shown in former devices. The opposite jaw, D, has its upper edge formed with an inclined flange, F, which fits in a corresponding dovetailed groove or channel formed in the lower part of the foot- B, so that the block D may be caused to move to or from the block D by suitable mechanism. This block D carries the opposing grippingjaw and rollers, between which and those on the stationary jaw D the rope G may be compressed and held, so that the car to which the grip-shank is attached will be carried along with the rope.

In order to operate the block D and cause it to move to or from the stationary block D, and thus carry the gripping-jaws, a verticallymoving stem, H, is fitted to slide in a dovetailed groove or channel in the shank A, so that it may be moved up or down by the hand-wheel and screw or other suitable mechanism situated at the upper end within the car. The lower and rear side of this stem H is inclined backward, as shown at H, so that when the stem is caused to move upward within the shank Athis inclined portion is acted upon by the upper edge of the slot I, formed in the shank A, and through which the incline H projects, so as to force the stem forward. The lower end of this stem is connected with the movable sliding block D by a link or tumbler, J, so that when the stem is drawn upward, and its lower end is forced forward slightly, it acts through the link J to force the block D forward, and with it the movable gripping-jaw. This whole movement is very small, not exceeding three-eighths of an inch, and is therefore very powerful and effective in closing the jaws.

At the lower side of the rear end of the yoke C is formed an inclined surface, K, upon which the bottom of the link J is guided as it moves, there being a slot made through the rear portion of the foot B of sufficient size to just admit the link to pass easily, and it may also have anti-friction rollers J, as shown in Fig. 2, if desired.

Upon the rear, at the lower end of the shank A, are formed inclined or wedge-shaped pieces L.

A bar, M, is bolted or secured to the rear portion of the inclined portion H of the stem, and when the stem is depressed this bar M will travel downward and backward over the inclines L, thus withdrawing the block D and its gripping-jaw from the rope, which is thus left free to travel without propelling the car.

The object of this invention is to provide a more perfect gripping device, and to protect the working-parts from the drifting s'and which may fall upon them through the slot in the tube, this protection being afforded by the foot B, which extends over all the parts, having only a small slot through-the rear for the operation of the connecting link or tumbler.

I am aware it is not broadly new to employ a vertically-moving stem having a wedge upon its lower end to operate oppositely-moving slides. I am also aware that oppositely-moving blocks have been secured in frames which carry the clamp, said blocks being operated by an inverted wedge to cause the blocks to slide toward or from each other; and these features I therefore do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a grip for ropeways, the vertical shank A, forming a guide for the movable stem H, having the foot 13, extending at right angles to one side from it, and the surrounding yoke into which the edges of the foot are tongued or fitted, substantially as herein described.

2. In a gripping device for ropeways, the vertical shank having the horizontal L-shaped foot or extension, the fixed and movable jaws attached beneath the foot, a vertically-moving stem guided within the shank, and a link connecting the foot of said stem to the movable gripping jaw, substantially as herein described.

3. In a rope-gripping device, the vertical shank having a horizontal foot slotted at the rear, as shown, 'in combination with the vertically-moving stem having the incline H at the lower rear side, and a link connecting said stem with the movable jaw of the grip, substantially as herein described.

4. In a ropegripping device, a vertical shank having the horizontal foot slotted at the rear, as shown, and having the inclined guide K, over which the link connecting the operating-stem with the movable jaw moves, substantially as herein described.

5. In a rope-gripping device, the vertical shank with the horizontal foot slotted at the rear, as shown, and the stem connected with the movable gripping-jaw and guided by the vertical shank, within which it passes, in combination with the wedge-shaped inclines L L,

at the rear of the shank, and the transverse bar M, secured to the stem, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

WM. ANILE BURKE. Witnesses:

Gno. H. STRONG, S. H. NoURsE. 

